If you are concerned about a child, please either:
· Contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mrs Andrews) or school’s Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads (Mrs Smith, Mrs Crabbe, Mrs Jerram ) via the school office.
OR
· Contact "CONTACT SWINDON" on 01793 464646
OR
Contact the NSPCC. Call 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
Keeping children safe in education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Ray Williams is the school governor responsible for child protection and safeguarding.
We have a duty of care to pupils. Concerns about the welfare or safety of pupils will usually be discussed with parents/carers. Our first priority is the child’s welfare and, therefore, there may be occasions when concerns about a child means that we have to consult other agencies before we contact the parent/carer.
When a safeguarding or child protection concern is reported to the safeguarding team a record of this concern is kept on file (CPOMS). These records are stored securely and confidentially with restricted access. Parents and carers are almost always informed of any concerns arising, unless to do so would increase the risk of harm to the child or there is information to suggest that a criminal offence has been committed. In this situation we will consult with MASH in the first instance to seek advice.
When a child transfers to a new school, this information transfers as well, confidentially and separate to academic information.
CHILDREN NOT COLLECTED FROM SCHOOL
If a pupil has not been collected from school and we have and we have not had a message, we will follow the procedure below.
- The school will attempt to contact parents/carers and other authorised contacts.
- Half an hour after the end of school day/agreed collection time, if the school is unable to make contact, the school will contact MASH to warn them of the situation, making it clear that at this stage it is just for information.
- Wherever possible the school will make a visit to the home (no member of staff to visit alone), in case the parent/carer is present but not contactable via telephone.
- School will prepare the information which will be required by MASH as far as possible.
- An hour after collection time or by 4.30pm, whichever is the sooner, school will again contact MASH, who will then provide support and guidance.
If a pupil is absent at registration and no reason has been given for absence, we will follow this process:
- Within first hour: Contact parents/carers via all contacts provided; leave message requesting call back
- Check a’phone messages/emails
- Begin with ‘vulnerable’ children, then Y5/6, then Y3/4, then Lower School
- If no response from contacts, liaise with class teacher for any information on absence
- Liaise with siblings (if in school/if applicable)
- Try all contacts again; also contact via email/Parent Mail
- Contact siblings’ schools (where applicable) to find out if siblings absent
- Try all contacts again
- If still no response, inform Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher/Assistant Headteacher who may take one of the following actions:
vMake a home visit (with another member of staff)
vContact named social worker
vContact "Contact Swindon"
We may also contact Education Welfare Services to discuss support for attendance
PREVENT
OPERATION ENCOMPASS
ENCOMPASS MASH
Operation Encompass is a partnership between police and schools, a school can only join if the local police force has already joined Operation Encompass.
One of the principles of Operation Encompass is that all incidents of domestic abuse are shared with schools, not just those where an offence can be identified.
The Key Adult in school is the person who receives information about police attended Domestic Abuse incidents.
The Key Adult will be notified prior to the start of the next school day that the police have attended an incident of domestic abuse. This timely information sharing enables appropriate support to be provided for that child so that all interactions, from when the child first arrives at the school gates, are of a positive nature.
The Key Adult must be trained as a Designated or Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Encompass mandates a secure record-keeping trail, which may be electronic or paper based. Within Operation Encompass all records are managed at Child Protection level with the highest level of security and confidentiality, and in full accordance with GDPR. These records are held by police and schools only. Operation Encompass does not hold the records and never has access to these records.
UK Protect
NSPCC
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/underwear-rule/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/
Please take a look at this short film put together by the UK Safer Internet Centre. A brilliant one and a half minutes highlighting why the Safer Internet Day is important, and how awareness of internet dangers is vital to the lives of children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl_gZTQ9F7w
Share Aware overview
Share Aware, from NSPCC and O2, gives parents all the tools they need to have regular and informed conversations with their child about staying safe online. Under 20% of parents discuss online safety regularly with their children but we want to get every family talking about their child’s life online, just as they would their day at school.
Parents can sign up to the Icebreaker email series and become an expert in their child’s online world in 6 weeks, follow our four simple steps to keeping kids safe online, watch our film ‘Safety advice from a 10 year old’ or visit Net Aware – our guide to your child’s social networks apps and games.
The internet is a great place for kids to be, being Share Aware makes it safer.
- Don’t download APPS rated above your age.
- Don’t answer messages from unknown people.
- Don’t share personal information e.g., your full name.
- Be kind online, even if you’re anonymous.
- Ask for help if you’re unsure about something.
- Use the internet with your parents or a trusted adult.
- Only talk to people you know.
- Make comments positive.
- Only say helpful and true things.
- Use appropriate devices.
- Only post appropriate images.
- Never enter your data into suspicious websites.
- If you’re unhappy, tell a trusted adult and turn off.